Frozen car locks are one of winter’s most irritating little ambushes. You’re already cold, already late, and suddenly the key won’t even go in the door, let alone turn.
Before you start breathing on the lock or attacking it with brute force, there’s a simple fix you may already have in your pocket.
Why hand sanitiser works
Most hand sanitisers are alcohol-based. Alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water, which means it can quickly break down ice inside a frozen lock mechanism.
That makes it perfect for dealing with iced-up keyholes quickly, safely, and without specialist products.
How to de-ice a keyhole with hand sanitiser
- Grab a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitiser
The pocket-sized ones are ideal for this. - Squeeze a small amount directly into the keyhole
Don’t flood it – a couple of drops is plenty. - Wait a few seconds
Let the alcohol do its thing. - Insert the key and turn gently
You should find it slides in and turns without resistance.
That’s it. No scraping, no snapped keys, no frozen fingers.
A couple of sensible notes
- This works best on traditional key locks — if your car has keyless entry, you won’t need it.
- Don’t force the key if it still feels stiff; add a little more sanitiser and wait another moment.
- Keeping a tiny bottle in the glovebox during winter is a smart move — it also doubles as, well, hand sanitiser.
Why this is a proper car hack
- It uses something you already own.
- It costs nothing extra.
- And it solves a genuinely annoying problem in seconds.
Which, really, is what car hacking is all about.
This tip is from the author of Car Hacks – a collection of clever, low-cost ways to make everyday driving, owning and maintaining a car easier, cheaper and less frustrating. If you like practical fixes that use everyday household items (and don’t require mechanical know-how), you’ll find loads more inside the book.
Car Hacks 